Origins (A Black Novel, #1) Read Online Free Page B

and check the time.
    Crap. I’m going to be late for work! I jump up out of bed, knocking the quilt to the floor in the process, and race to the shower. Not bothering to wait for the water to warm up, I immediately strip down and jump in, yelping when the cold spray hits me. Not more than ten minutes later, I am fully dressed and bounding down the stairs on my way out the door when Dad’s voice stops me short.
    “Adelin? Where are you going?”
    “Sorry, Dad. Can’t talk, I’m late for work.” I reply as I grab my car keys off the counter.
    He looks at me with a frown, shaking his head. “I already called them and explained that we had a family emergency and you would need the next couple of weeks off. I told them you would call and let them know when you would be returning to work.” What he’s saying clicks into place and reality comes crashing back down on me, jarring me awake. I turn around to face Dad, noticing at once the large, slightly swollen dark skin hanging under his normally alert brown eyes. “Have you even slept, Dad?”
    “I had to finish making the arrangements with Marissa. Don’t worry about me, I’ll sleep later. I was just about to come and wake you up-Marissa will be here at eleven to pick you up.” I turn to head back upstairs but his voice stops me in my tracks. “I’m sorry I never told you about your mom. I didn’t want you to think she had left you and, more importantly, I didn’t want to lose you. I was afraid if you knew about her you would have gone searching for her and I couldn’t lose both of you. I’m sorry.” His eyes shine with emotion as he looks at me with a pained expression. “Why don’t you go upstairs and start packing?”
    Not knowing what to say, I simply nod and turn to lumber back up to my room. I pause once inside my bedroom, surveying my belongings. What do you take on a month long visit to see your dead mother? I pull out a few luggage bags and blindly begin shoving clothing inside, pausing only long enough to grab my toothbrush and other toiletries from the bathroom before resuming. Zipping up the last bag, I step back to survey the chaotic mess that used to be my room but now looks like a violent tornado had just passed through. Satisfied I had everything I would need, I grab my bags just as Dad hollers up the stairs, “Marissa’s here!” I jump, startled before righting myself and lumbering clumsily down the stairs, bags in tow. Dad’s face is scrunched up, as if in deep thought, as he takes my luggage from me and silently heads outside to load it in the back of the waiting SUV. Once he’s done he turns to me, eyes softening, and folds me into a hug. “I love you,” he says softly in my ear before pulling away.
    “Love you too,” I reply as he steps back, a sad smile on his face. I walk around to the passenger side and open the door before turning back to face Dad. “Bye, Dad,” I say as I climb in.
    “Good-bye, Adelin,” I hear him whisper sadly, barely audible, before he whirls around and disappears back into the house. The last thing I see before my heavy eyes close of their own volition is the sign proclaiming “You are now leaving Blakely, Pennsylvania. Hope to see you again soon.”

    When I come to, the sky is just beginning to darken, casting shadows eerily around the interior of the SUV. I rub the remainder of sleep from my eyes and squint at the clock illuminated on the dashboard- ten past six. I must’ve been exhausted! I had slept for six hours. “Where are we?” My throat is dry and scratchy and my voice comes out in a croak.
    Never once taking her eyes from the road, Dr. Thorne fishes around in the seat behind her and produces a bottle of water, which she hands to me, before replying. “We’re about two hours away from the coast.”
    “Thanks,” I say as I gratefully accept the cold beverage from her and take a swig.
    “You were restless. Nightmares?” she asks, glancing at me from the corner of her eye.
    “Not